On SAGE Insight: Social Relationships and Suicidal Ideation Among the Elderly Who Live Alone in Republic of Korea: A Logistic Model

Editor’s Choice articleWith population aging and change in family structure, the number of the elderly who live alone is rapidly increasing in Korea. The aim of this studywas to explore the association between social relationships—especially newly formed formal social relationships (FSRs)—and suicidal ideation among Korean elderly who live alone. This study used the 2014 Survey of Living Conditions and Welfare Needs of Older Koreans, conducted by the Korean Institute for Health and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Health and Welfare (KIHASA). The findings of this study suggest that the Korean Government needs to strengthen public system for alleviating social isolation of the elderly living alone. Therefore, this study proposed 2 strategic approaches to maintain and strengthen informal social relationships (ISRs) (eg, children, friends and neighbors) and to develop different types of formal social relationships (FSRs) (eg, the measures to combine FSRs with ISRs, gatekeepers, etc). Results provide several implications for social work practice and social policy for the elderly.

Abstract

With population aging and change in family structure, the number of the elderly who live alone is rapidly increasing in Korea. The aim of this study was to explore the association between social relationships—especially newly formed formal social relationships (FSRs)—and suicidal ideation among Korean elderly who live alone. The elderly who live alone (N = 2509) from the 2014 Survey of Living Conditions and Welfare Needs of Older Koreans were analyzed using logistic regression. This study found that informal social relationships (ISRs) (eg, children, friends and neighbors) of the elderly who live alone had statistically significant association with suicidal ideation, whereas FSRs (eg, formal helper and social participation) did not have significant association with suicidal ideation. The findings of this study suggest that the Korean Government needs to strengthen public system for alleviating social isolation of the elderly living alone. Therefore, this study proposed 2 strategic approaches to maintain and strengthen ISRs and to develop different types of FSRs (eg, the measures to combine FSRs with ISRs, gatekeepers, etc).

Social Relationships and Suicidal Ideation Among the Elderly Who Live Alone in Republic of Korea: A Logistic Model
Hyun-Jung Kwon, PhD, Ji-Ung Jeong, PhD, Mihyang Choi, MSW
First Published May 13, 2018
DOI: 10.1177/0046958018774177
INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, vol. 55,